REVEALED: The team that will represent South Africa at World Schools Festival
NEWS: The stellar line-up for the Cup competition at this year’s World Schools Festival is gathering pace.
St Michael’s College, Ireland, and Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen are joining reigning Welsh national champions, Cardiff & Vale College, and defending ASC English Champions, Hartpury College.
One of the most eagerly awaited new school tournaments will be held for the first time at Pattana Sports Resort in Thailand between 12th – 17th December.
This international event which will feature the 8 top schools from across the world competing in the Cup competition, with an Open Trophy competition being played alongside. The World Schools Festival will be an incredible showcase for school rugby.
Last year featured some of the greatest schools in the world and the tournament is going to be even bigger in 2023.
St Michael’s College returns on the back of a great domestic season so far, defeating rival Blackrock in a cliffhanger.
As one of the leading rugby feeder schools for Leinster’s academy, considered by many to be the best in Europe.
The rugby programme has now produced multiple Irish Internationals, and as recently as 2020 had five former scholars in the Grand Slam winning team, and several playing at the recent World Cup in France.
EG Jansen from Gauteng will come to the WSF with high hopes for the new 1st XV.
Their entry follows a successful season, highlighted by a 41-17 victory over Monnas and being runners-up in the Noordvaal Cup.
The EG Jansen squad will include their U16 Class of 2022 when they ranked No 3 in South Africa (only behind SA giants, Grey College and Paul Roos Gimnasium), having been unbeaten.
They will be a dark horse at this year’s World Schools, and a force in the SA schools rugby season in 2024 – do not be surprised to see them as a Top 3 ranking team.
In 2023 they ranked top 10 in SA despite the majority of the players being grade 11. This is a generational side.
The growth of the Festival sees the expansion of the Open tournament with Rugby Travel Academy from South Africa returning to reconvene their battles from 2022 with Odyssey.
Side’s from around the world took each other on in the tournament in 2023, with Grey College beating sides from England, Fiji and around the globe.
New entrants, Dubai Tigers RFC from the UAE are also looking forward to their first WSF experience.
A new Girls 7s tournament is also being launched, with Hartpury College travelling with 2 squads, with Odyssey launching a Girls 7s squad as well, with more teams to be announced.
The Festival promises to once again embody the true spirit of rugby with 2023 having players participating from 12 countries.
* For further information or any questions about the WSF, CLICK HERE!
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